X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $378
- Cash Discount Price: $2,186
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.25x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $88.91 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 425% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 325%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| First Health | $16 - $1,008 | 18% |
| Multiplan | $17 - $1,967 | 19% |
| Aetna | $47 - $780 | 53% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $49 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $50 | 56% |
| Amerigroup | $51 | 57% |
| United | $182 - $984 | 205% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $223 | 251% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $378 - $1,093 | 425% |
| Wppa | $380 | 427% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $393 | 442% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $413 | 465% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $413 | 465% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $700 | 787% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $1,421 | 1598% |
| Usa Managed Care | $1,858 | 2090% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price is $2,186.00. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average, which is $88.91, and also exceeds the facility's own negotiated rate of $378.00. While commercial payers like First Health and Aetna have negotiated rates ranging from $16 to $1,008, these amounts often exceed the cash price. For patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $2,186.00 upfront can be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's negotiated rate may be higher than the cash rate.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate and lowest possible price, it is critical to request a full itemized bill before finalizing payment. Hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual charges, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled codes that inflate the total. If you receive a large bill, do not accept the summary as final; instead, demand a detailed CPT-coded statement to verify that every service rendered is accurately priced. Additionally, ask the billing department about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the cash price by 20% to 50% if paid in full within a short window, effectively bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.